The One and Only Tea Room - Now Hanging in Babylon

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Well folks, here we are, transported through time and space to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Golden couches and the distressed chintz sofa are arranged on a terrace overlooking the Euphrates and, as we recline on the exquisitely-soft cushions eating peeled grapes, we can enjoy the warm fragrance of the gardens' many exotic blooms. The garden is tended by the indefatigable Mellors, with occasional help from the bishops, rabbis and any passing world leaders. Somewhere behind the terrace there is an aga and a priest's hole, with optional massage table.

Please come and join us for a celebratory drink and conversation ranging from the profound to the profoundly silly.

[amberlight]

Mary, try soaking all the bits that smell with white vinegar and leave it to dry. It'll stink of vinegar for a few days but then it's supposed to do wonders for milk odour. If you can put up with it, worth a try?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Would a blast with a steam mop help? I've found that a good jet of steam can be very effective at getting rid of grot (although I'm not sure whether it's recommended for laminate). Then again, if it's under the fridge-freezer then damaging the surface of the laminate is maybe not such a big deal if it gets rid of the pong.

[Scout19075]

Sad news. My SiL lost DC6 at 38 weeks. She's in the hospital now being induced. Am gutted for her (despite my views on the whole situation) and can't help but think "It's full term. TS was 38w4d when I was induced and he was born full term, full sized, happy, healthy and wonderful at 38w5d." I had said to MrScout the other week that I had a feeling this pregnancy wasn't going to end well and am I was right (though I didn't expect this result).

For those of you that do, can you keep her/her family in your prayers?

(Has been a rough few days with my friend's mother dying, my friend at home going into Hospice, so the end is near, and now this -- in fact, I'm going to selfishly ask for a few positive vibes/prayers my way, too, so I can support my family and friends.)

[Tee2072]

I'm so sorry to hear this Scout. Definitely in my prayers.

[beanandspud]

So sorry to hear this Scout - it's a terrible thing for anyone to have to go through. Thinking of you all.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Oh no, Scout. So many awful things happening at once. I will light a candle.

[DutchOma]

Oh Scout, so sad for you. I know that Mary and Amber are of a praying disposition and so I pray that between us we can get into a place where you are close to the Lord to find peace and comfort.

[amberlight]

Scout, eek and arrgh and yes, prayers aplenty for them, for you, and for everyone in your life that you're trying to support and be there for...

[MaryBS]

Prayers Scout :(. How awful for them. Also for you and your friends and family, struggling with so much to deal with :(

I might have found a "cure" for the awful milk smell in my kitchen. I left a pan of milk on, which has now burnt, and I have a burning smell in there too. DD's response when she got in from school is "have you been cooking cheese on toast". Its a better smell than the other one, thats for sure...

Will have a go at the other suggestions when DH gets home - so he can move the fridge/freezer...

[Scout19075]

Thank you, Ladies.

(I do love the tea room!)

It's been a weird ol' day.

Does anyone know, in situations like my SiL's, what happens? I was going to go onto one of the other parts of MN to ask but really don't want to put my foot in it with those that are grieving.

[Catitainahatita]

Oh no Scout that is very horrid news (all of it without exception). My thoughts are also with you so you can deal with the situation and be supportive to those suffering.
My advice would be to do a search for the topic in bereavement. I am sure if you read some of the threads you can find your answer without having "to intrude" on someone else's grief.
I was going to write about other things but I think I will wait til later. Horrible news indeed for all concerned.

[MaryBS]

Scout, from what I understand, its pretty awful, in that its exactly like giving birth, except there is no joy in it. My DBro and SIL were encouraged to dress their baby, and hold him, and have pictures taken. It just looks like the baby is sleeping, not at all morbid. They also took hand and foot casts, and had a burial. :( Hope thats not TMI :(

[MaryBS]

I would also expect there to be an autopsy :(

[TheWestCoastLotus]

Oh Scout. :(:(:( Holding you (all) in my thoughts. ((((((HUG))))))

[Donki]

Thinking of you Scout

[Scout19075]

No, Mary, not TMI. We had thought about autopsy but apparently BiL got all up-in-arms about it ("Why do we need that?" and "We don't need that information!"). But they do -- out of seven pregnancies they've had two MC/stillbirths (what do you call it in this situation?) and out of the five live births none have been easy and two ended with some serious hemorages. SiL isn't as young/fit/built-for-a-football-team as they like to think she is and if they're set on six they really should consider finding out. (Sorry to be so bold/crass.)

SiL is high-strung/wound tightly/stressed out at the best of times, I fear this is going to push her over the edge.

(oh, and did I mention BiL FINALLY went to the doctor about two weeks ago and had some tests run? He has some degenerative lung disease (I can never remember the name of it) with no cure and only "management" but they caught it at stage three of four so prognosis isn't good. So I feel very horrible for thinking perhaps, in a way, this tragedy of MC has been a blessing.)

Thank you, all, for the positive thoughts/prayers/hugs, etc. I need to find the strength to offer it all up to God and trust he'll help my family/friends and help me help them as I'm needed.

[LeLapinSecret]

Finally caught up with you all.

My thoughts also with you and your family/friends Scout, that's a lot to be dealing with at once.

Tea, a very belated Happy Birthday to Milk, glad that you and she had such a lovely day.

Has been the Week of Living With Malfunctioning Appliances here at Secret Towers. A leaking washing machine, two toilets that have been leaking, and an oven with no heat. Toilets and oven now fixed, and washing machine that was supposed to be fixed on Monday now will hopefully be fixed tomorrow.

Would be especially good if it is, because this is the week that SBoy has taken a couple of steps backwards in his toilet training, and a few accidents have been had. Of course. It would be this week, wouldn't it? C'est la vie, eh.

Anyway, my life has been dominated by making phone calls, waiting in, popping round to various lovely neighbours to do washing... luckily SBoy is great friends with the DD of one of said lovely neighbours, who is the same age as he is (not an only, but siblings a good few years older) and they have been really enjoying hanging out lately, he plays better with her than with any of his other little friends. Who are, at this stage, still mostly all DC of friends of mine - he hasn't really made any friends of his own at nursery yet. Early days.

Maud - I might have known you would beat me to it with the Boney M classic. So, going off in a completely different direction, here's a (that's two years before I myself discovered Pop Music), purely because SBoy was jigging along to it in the car today, when it was on Radio 2, and he liked it. Groove on, popsters!

[LeLapinSecret]

Scout - just seen your update - that all sounds very sad and difficult, even more so than before. Wishing you the strength you need. Hugs if you want them.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Scout - Still thinking of you (and especially so at Brownies tonight when we were making Smores). Have you looked at the SANDS website?

That was, like, totally groovy, Lapin. I don't remember when I discovered Pop Music and I used to like some dreadful trash and still do but .

[Scout19075]

Thanks, Maud, for the link.

Mmm, s'mores. My Seniors started planning their camp menu and for five minutes one girl kept saying "sloppy joes" while another said "s'mores". It became a chant.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

We love Smores. There was almost a riot when I said we'd be making Smores.

[beanandspud]

Good evening!

Sorry to ask a daft question but what are s'mores???

[Scout19075]

Next time I'm home I'll get you/your Brownies the real s'more making materials. Which reminds me....I must put my summer camp order in.

[Scout19075]

S'mores

YUM!

[LeLapinSecret]

Ah Bryan. Strike that Pose. And would you ever look at that jacket! Top tune, Maud.

I fell far short of that level of sophistication in 1972. (Still do, for that matter.) is the song that awoke me to the world of Pop - and I still feel the same joy when I hear it now! Makes me want to dance in a wild and uninhibited and actually rather clumsy way...... almost as if I were wearing 6in platform boots...